Winker-brage



(NO Moael.)

AQG. CLARK WINKER BRAGE.

No. 518,876. l Patented Apr. v24, 1894.

Wi l gasszs THR NAYIUNL LPTHQGRFHKNG CUMFANY.

WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER CLOUGH CLARK, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WlNKER-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 518,876, dated. April 24,1894.

Application filed September 4, 1893. Serial No. 484.762. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER CLOU GH CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Harness Winker-Brace, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in' harness, and has special reference to the bridle portion and head-gear thereof.

The objects of my invention are to improve the winker-strap, rendering the same more durable than heretofore; and to provide for a strengthening of a weak part of the strap; and iinally to permit, without weakening, of a certain flexible movement of the strap at such points as are necessary.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specitied and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is-a perspective View of a winker-strap constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the reinforcing wire employed therein.

Like numerals indicate like parts in both gures of the drawings.

Heretofore in the construction of winkerstraps, it has been common to employ forked reinforcing wires; and in some instances these wires have terminated short of the ends of the winkers or blinds of the bridle and in others been of corresponding length as the straps and terminated and were secured to the winkers or blinds. The rst of these constructions resulted in fieXible ends for the winker straps, which are very advantageous and desirable, but the ends of the wires being unguarded soon cut through the straps, the movements of such straps'being conducive to such destruction. The second construction referred to, that is, where the wires projected into the winkers or blinds, rendered the straps too stiff and the winkers or blinds could not yield readily and were uncomfortable to the animal, and the leather of blinds soon broke through.

By my invention as above stated, I propose to secure all of the good points of the first construction described and to obviate all the disadvantages contained in either construction.

The winker strap l, is as usual, divided, forming the branches 2, and secured within said branches, by the usual process of sewing, is the V-shaped spring-wire 3. The terminals 4 of this wire diverge toward their outer or free ends and terminate a short distance above the ends of the branches of the winker-strap. These branches it will be observed are rounded to points near their lower ends, at which the sewing or stitches cease, and from this point on, or in other words, at the ends of the branches, are produced flat, flexible or pliable leather tabs 5, which are designed to take between the layers composing the winkers or blinds between which said tabs are sewed. The wires are at the points where the sewing ceases bent upon themselves to form transverse loops or eyes 6, which are disposed outwardly at angles (substantially at right angles) to the remaining portions of the wire, and through which the said tabs are passed. These loops or eyes form a suitable ending for jthe wires, one in which there is no danger, by reason of sharp ends being present, and also supports or rel inforces the flexible portions or tabs of the winker-strap so that they are not subjected to too great a strain, and yet the .distance between the upper ends of the winkers or blinders is such as to permit of ample flexible movement of the winker-straps.

Having described my' invention, what I claim is` The herein described im roved winkerstrap for bridle-blinds, the ame comprising the forked branches, and the V-shap'ed wire around which the branches are stitched to points near their lower ends, below which said branches terminate in flexible tabs for attachment to the winkers or blinds, the branches of the said wire extending from the branches of the strap above the tabs and bent upon themselves and outward at an angle to form loops or eyes through which the tabs are passed, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABNER CLOUGH CLARK.

Witnesses:

J. W. TEMPLE, FRANK A. DRURY.

IOO 

